• Seeks
return of intellectuals overseas
return of intellectuals overseas
IT was a stark reminder of the
wastefulness of the nation’s leaders as former United States (U.S.) President
Bill Clinton declared that Nigeria had failed to properly use her rich natural
resources.
wastefulness of the nation’s leaders as former United States (U.S.) President
Bill Clinton declared that Nigeria had failed to properly use her rich natural
resources.
Clinton did not mince words as he
told Nigeria: “You haven’t done well with your oil money.”
told Nigeria: “You haven’t done well with your oil money.”
According to Clinton, Nigeria
cannot afford to fail because if she does, the consequences for Africa would be
disastrous. He challenged Nigerian leaders to create economic opportunities for
the majority of the citizens.
cannot afford to fail because if she does, the consequences for Africa would be
disastrous. He challenged Nigerian leaders to create economic opportunities for
the majority of the citizens.
The former U.S. president spoke
while answering stakeholders’ questions at the 18th This Day Awards organised
by the This Day Newspaper management to honour 18 teachers for their commitment
to duty. The well-attended event was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre,
Abeokuta.
while answering stakeholders’ questions at the 18th This Day Awards organised
by the This Day Newspaper management to honour 18 teachers for their commitment
to duty. The well-attended event was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre,
Abeokuta.
Clinton urged Nigeria to find a
way of bringing home her intellectuals, who he said, were scattered all over
the world, to assist in developing the country instead of using their talents
to develop other nations.
way of bringing home her intellectuals, who he said, were scattered all over
the world, to assist in developing the country instead of using their talents
to develop other nations.
Answering a question, the former
American President said: “When I became President, my Secretary for Commerce
did a lot of work in Africa before he was tragically killed in a plane crash in
1995. I told him to make the list of the 10 most important countries in the
world for the 21st century and Nigeria was in the list. Imagine the future of
the entire continent if Nigeria fails or South Africa fails. So, you are a
country of great potential.”
American President said: “When I became President, my Secretary for Commerce
did a lot of work in Africa before he was tragically killed in a plane crash in
1995. I told him to make the list of the 10 most important countries in the
world for the 21st century and Nigeria was in the list. Imagine the future of
the entire continent if Nigeria fails or South Africa fails. So, you are a
country of great potential.”
He added: “I would say you have
about three big challenges. First of all, like 90 per cent of the countries
which have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money.” He
said that he expected Nigeria to reinvest it in different ways.
about three big challenges. First of all, like 90 per cent of the countries
which have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money.” He
said that he expected Nigeria to reinvest it in different ways.
Noting the disparity in the
ownership of wealth in Nigeria, Clinton said: “You have to somehow bring
economic opportunities to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem
specific to Nigeria. Almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily
concentrated in and around urban areas. So, you have all these political
problems and now violence problems, religious differences, and all the rhetoric
of Boko Haram, but the truth is that the poverty rate in the North is three
times greater than what it is in the Lagos area and to deal with that, you have
to have both powerful stake in the local councils and a national policy that
work together.”
ownership of wealth in Nigeria, Clinton said: “You have to somehow bring
economic opportunities to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem
specific to Nigeria. Almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily
concentrated in and around urban areas. So, you have all these political
problems and now violence problems, religious differences, and all the rhetoric
of Boko Haram, but the truth is that the poverty rate in the North is three
times greater than what it is in the Lagos area and to deal with that, you have
to have both powerful stake in the local councils and a national policy that
work together.”
He expressed the view that “there
has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organisational ability
that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are
immigrant and bring it to bear here so that the country as a whole can rise.
One of the people on my trip with me today who unfortunately could not come up
here because he had to go to visit his family is a young Nigerian-American,
named Nnamdi.”
has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organisational ability
that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are
immigrant and bring it to bear here so that the country as a whole can rise.
One of the people on my trip with me today who unfortunately could not come up
here because he had to go to visit his family is a young Nigerian-American,
named Nnamdi.”
He described Nnamdi as a
wonderful man, saying: “He (Nnamdi) does great work in America for poor kids in
Arkansas City and he became a friend of mine. Both his parents have Ph.Ds, his
sister has a Ph.D. He often says ‘I’m the failure in my family and I only have
a university degree and I play football. My point is there are Nigerians who
are like this all over the world. What you have to figure out is how to keep
those people in Nigeria and how to ensure their success leads on into the rest
of the country. So, I think solving the economic divide that is in your country
will help the political divide; making better use of your resources.”
wonderful man, saying: “He (Nnamdi) does great work in America for poor kids in
Arkansas City and he became a friend of mine. Both his parents have Ph.Ds, his
sister has a Ph.D. He often says ‘I’m the failure in my family and I only have
a university degree and I play football. My point is there are Nigerians who
are like this all over the world. What you have to figure out is how to keep
those people in Nigeria and how to ensure their success leads on into the rest
of the country. So, I think solving the economic divide that is in your country
will help the political divide; making better use of your resources.”
The former American President
compared Nigeria to India which he said “has unbelievable entrepreneurs but
they are not very good at collecting capital and investing it in infrastructure
so that they can unite the poor part of the country with the rich part. That’s
what you have to do. And then, you have to empower people with education so
they can succeed at home as well as around the world”.
compared Nigeria to India which he said “has unbelievable entrepreneurs but
they are not very good at collecting capital and investing it in infrastructure
so that they can unite the poor part of the country with the rich part. That’s
what you have to do. And then, you have to empower people with education so
they can succeed at home as well as around the world”.
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle
Amosun commended the organisers of the event for bringing it to the state.
Amosun commended the organisers of the event for bringing it to the state.
At the event, eight primary
school teachers, four secondary school teachers and three university lecturers
were honoured and given a cash reward of N2 million each.
school teachers, four secondary school teachers and three university lecturers
were honoured and given a cash reward of N2 million each.
Governor Amosun was also given an
award for investing heavily in education.
award for investing heavily in education.
Source: Guardian
